Player Lowdown

Strengths Weaknesses

STRENGTHS: Saxton has broad shoulders and good overall musculature. Given his large frame, he generates impressive initial burst and accelerates smoothly, giving him rare speed for a player of his size and making him a legitimate matchup nightmare.

He is a physical ballcarrier and keeps his feet on contact, driving through defenders to generate yardage after the catch. He can extend and pluck the ball to make the highlight reel reception and can track it over his shoulder. Saxton isn't strong enough to slow down NFL defensive ends but he doesn't shy from competition and has the frame to bulk up.

WEAKNESSES: Saxton is a better athlete than football player to this point. He's quite raw in many of the finer points of the position, giving away his routes with wasted movement and too often allowing passes to slip through his fingers for ugly drops. Saxton is undeniably talented, but he has shown little growth physically and in his game during his collegiate career.

--Rob Rang

Player Overview

After playing one season at Itawamba (Miss.) Community College in 2011, Saxton signed with South Alabama and quickly emerged as a player to watch, catching 26 passes for 336 yards and a score as a sophomore. He led the Jaguars with 50 receptions in 2013 but rather than build upon this production as a senior, Saxton's numbers dropped dramatically (20 catches for 155 yards over the regular season).

Saxton has seen time as a traditional inline tight end and doesn't shirk from contact. His production, however, has come mostly out of the slot and in the backfield. He's quite raw - both as a receiver and a blocker - but is a good-sized athlete with excellent speed to stretch the field. In a draft as weak at tight end as this one, those facts alone could make 2015 the first year South Alabama produces an NFL draft pick.

08/11/2014 - 2014 PRESEASON JOHN MACKEY AWARD WATCH LIST: Wes Saxton, Sr, South Alabama...Saxton, who will begin his senior campaign Sept. 6 when the Jaguars open the season at Kent State at 1 p.m. on ESPN3, is one of two Sun Belt Conference tight ends (Darion Griswold, Arkansas State) named to the list. The Hueytown, Ala., native earned first-team all-SBC honors as a junior last season after ranking among the top five tight ends nationally in both categories. Saxton tied for the team lead with 50 receptions, and recorded 635 receiving yards last season, both of which were career-high totals. - South Alabama football